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Join me this weekend for the Celebrate Clark Street World Music Festival

July 15, 2016

Dear Neighbor,

Travel the world without ever leaving the 49th Ward. Dance to the beat of music as diverse as our community and sample flavors from every continent on the planet at the 11th Annual Celebrate Clark Street World Music Festival, Saturday, July 16th (1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) and Sunday, July 17th (1:00 to 10 p.m.) on Clark Street between Morse and Estes. I am proud to join the lead sponsor–the Rogers Park Business Alliance–in bringing this marvelous festival to Rogers Park.

Picked by ChicagoTraveler.com for the“Editor’s Choice Award,” and critically acclaimed and recognized by the Chicago Reader for its eclectic musical lineup, this world music street party continually breaks the mold of Chicago’s predictable street festivals. “Make no mistake–the live music acts rival, if not exceed some of those at the Taste or anything else you could find at a Grant Park fest.” – allvoices.com.

With two stages of live World Music (curated by Sound Culture Center for Global Arts), Celebrate Clark Street has grown from a large block party into one of Chicago’s most renowned and unique street festivals, attracting over 25,000 people annually. The festival has become a mecca for concert and festival goers and Chicago’s hippest “globalistas.” It highlights folkloric music and dance from around the world and cutting edge international touring bands, redefining the world music genre.

Enjoy live music from two stages; food from local restaurants; beer, wine and micheladas from local bars; an Art Lot; kids’ activities; and interactive entertainment throughout the festival area.

Celebrate Clark Street welcomes families. Family activities include Zumba, face painting, arts & crafts and much more. Back by popular demand is Dave Ford’s interactive sonic sculpture. This dynamic art piece is a musical combination of swings, chimes and drums that kids of all ages will enjoy.

Take your kids to the 1:00 p.m. children’s shows at the Morse Stage. Son Monarca will preform a kids show on Saturday and Future Hits will take to the stage on Sunday.

Artist Andrea Jablonski designed a paint-by-number mural exclusively for the festival this year. Grab a brush and some paint and add your mark to this community mural.

The festival is best known, however, for hosting many outstanding and critically acclaimed artists and showcasing the diversity of our neighborhood. This year’s headliners include Chicago Afrobeat Project, Los Vicios De Papa, Palenke Soultribe, and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars.

A $5 per person ($10 per family) donation isrequested to attend the event. Proceeds help fund the cost of the festival and community programs, such as the Glenwood Sunday Market and the beautification of our commercial corridors.

My staff and I will be at the festival both days taking city service requests. Look for my 49th Ward Satellite Service Office booth on the west side of Clark near Greenleaf.

I look forward to what promises to be a very fun weekend in Rogers Park!

Sincerely,

Joe Moore

P.S. Join me TONIGHT (Friday, July 15th) from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for the unofficial kick-off of the Clark Street Festival. I will be hosting one of my Follow Me on Friday gatherings at a venerable Clark Street establishment–the A&T Pancake House and Grill, 7036 N. Clark. Enjoy some of A&T’s club sandwiches, mini chicken kebobs, challah French toast triangles, and petits fours while my staff serves up complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks. For more information, CLICK HERE.